Rob Dawson's match reaction

Roberto Mancini insisted City’s point against Borussia Dortmund last night could prove to be vital if they are to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages – but blasted a display that saw his team lucky to escape with a draw.

Roberto Mancini insisted City’s point against Borussia Dortmund last night could prove to be vital if they are to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages – but blasted a display that saw his team lucky to escape with a draw.

Joe Hart was City’s hero against the Bundesliga champions, keeping City in the contest with a string of fine saves before Mario Balotelli displayed nerves of steel to score from the penalty spot in the last minute to snatch an unlikely point.

Mancini described the performance as ‘poor’ but perhaps only because his English failed to deliver a word suitable for such an abject showing.

The Italian, however, was thankful for Balotelli’s penalty – won after Neven Subotic was controversially adjudged to have handled Sergio Aguero’s shot – and insisted City could still qualify from their group despite heading into back-to-back games against Ajax with just a single point.

Mancini said: “Our performance was very, very poor but I think at the end of the group, this point could be very important. All the team played a poor game.

“We conceded a lot of chances. I am really disappointed for our performance.”

Subotic was furious over the penalty decision, saying: “It was never in my life a penalty. Never, never, not a chance. I have a hand. I can’t cut it off.”

And Mancini admitted there was a doubt over it.

“He touched the ball with his hand. He was unlucky,” said the City boss. “It could be maybe not, but I’m happy with the penalty.”

Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller squared up to Balotelli before the spot kick, but the City striker coolly slotted the ball home before gesturing to the keeper to be quiet. As well as being thankful for contributions from Hart and Balotelli, Mancini was critical of Aguero, who was guilty of missing a host of chances. Genius Joe Hart and Super Mario give Manchester City Euro lifeline

The Argentinian striker, still on his way back to full fitness after spending a month on the sidelines with a knee injury, forced Weidenfeller into three saves before Marco Reus gave the visitors the lead.

“Joe Hart saved us from an incredible defeat,” said Mancini. “He saved everything. We should say thank you to him. He did a fantastic performance. I don’t know if it was the best performance in football history. Mario was like Joe in goal. He did very well.

“In the first half, we had three or four incredible chances. I don’t know why we didn’t score. This can happen. The problem was our performance. This is the problem. We need to defend with all our players. If you don’t run, like Borussia Dortmund did, then it’s difficult.”

Mancini claimed to know the problem affecting his team’s start to the season but when pressed, refused to reveal how he was going to fix it.

“It’s my problem,” he said. “I will solve this problem.”

Mancini did however hint that his team were struggling to replicate their domestic form in Europe. “I think that the Champions League is totally different from every championship,” he said. “When you play, you play against the best players and when you have a chance you need to score. If you don’t, then it’s difficult for us to win.”